ACLU: Over 70% of Oregonians Want to Reduce Drug Felonies

While Oregon has helped lead the way in the fight to end cannabis prohibition, demonstrating that you can legalize more freedom, create new jobs and generate revenue for your state by legalizing marijuana, there is still more work to be done to end the failed and harmful Drug War. The ACLU has long been a champion of ending the failed and harmful War on Drugs, and the Oregon ACLU is wisely advocating for a bill that would reduce drug possession felonies to misdemeanors. Polling of 600 registered Oregon votes found that 73% favor a bill that would make small drug possession charges a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

Since marijuana is the most widely used (federally) illegal drug, most arrests across the nation are for cannabis offenses, but the wider Drug War has wreaked havoc across our nation, particularly for people of color. While Hollywood stars, famous musicians and other rich elites avoid jail and can afford the best rehab facilities, poor Black communities have been so devastated that professor Michelle Alexander coined our nation’s Drug War as “The New Jim Crow.”

Oregon has long been at the forefront of drug policy reform and even our sheriffs and police chiefs have come out in support of ending harmful drug possession felonies. All Oregonians should rally around this sensible bill and encourage their legislators to pass it. A sincere thanks to the ACLU and everyone working to end the failed and harmful Drug War.

Poll: Oregonians strongly support reducing drug sentences

New bill would do just that; press event 11 a.m. today in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon voters overwhelmingly support a proposal to reduce penalties for drug possession, according to a new poll.

The poll comes as a new bill, supported by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon,) would change small-scale drug possession to a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

Press event today: 11 a.m., Fourth Dimension Recovery Center: 3807 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97212 Large visuals explaining the poll in more detail Interviews with people who’s lives have been impacted Briefing about the poll, the new bill, Q&A

“The war on drugs has failed,” said David Rogers, the executive director of the ACLU of Oregon. “It has damaged families and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. A felony conviction for small-scale drug use is too harsh because it ruins people’s lives. Oregonians are ready for a smarter approach. This bill is our chance to win one, and we are going to do everything in our power to make sure it passes.”

The poll also found that Oregonians were more likely to vote for both a district attorney or a sheriff who is reform minded. Nearly two out of three Oregonians know someone who has struggled with drug addiction.

The poll was conducted by GBA Strategies, a nonpartisan public opinion research firm with deep experience on public opinion research about criminal justice, through live interviews, via phone and cell phone, using a probability sample of 600 registered Oregon voters, between Jan. 26 to 29. The answers provided reflect the entire population sampled. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error at the 95 percent confidence interval.

Anthony Johnson is the director of New Approach Oregon, the Political Action Committee responsible for Oregon's Measure 91 cannabis legalization campaign and co-owner of Duff Johnson Consulting. As Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Anthony served on the state's initial Marijuana Advisory Committee and he continues to advocate for sensible policies that decrease unnecessary arrests, protect patients' safe access, and help small businesses. With Duff Johnson Consulting, Anthony helps cannabis farmers, processors, retailers, and ancillary businesses with licensing, compliance, public relations, and marketing. DJC clients include the International Cannabis Business Conference, the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, Cannabliss, Natural Roots, and numerous medical cannabis cultivators that provide free cannabis to patients in need.Anthony co-hosts the Let's Hash It Out podcast, available here on Weed News, at www.letshashitout.blog, Sound Cloud, iTunes, and Stitcher. Anthony's blogs on Weed News are personal and don't necessarily reflect the views of any organization or company.

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